So, just out of curiosity... not that this has anything to do with something that happened while I was sailing last night... but what would be the best way to inform someone that they need to have navigation lights after you have almost run them over?

OK, maybe "almost run them over" was a bit of an exaggeration, but it is a bit unsettling to be on a course for half an hour and then suddenly realize there is another boat in your path. The boat was anchored and we spotted them with about 200 yards of distance between us. I feel like I would have a hard time explaining how I ran over an anchored boat. I sail on a city lake and there are tons of street lights, tower lights, stadium lights, and other lights off in the distance so I try to make sure that I'm lit up like a carnival ride. But this boat was completely dark. Not even a cabin light on.

Worldwide, no lights is the norm. Just don't hit them. Go away silently. Think about this: he has no lights, it's America, you start yelling stuff, he sweeps you with shots from his 9mm. Just go quietly.

Well, it seems as though the point of lights is to make sure that one is visible enough to avoid a collision. I take a bit of offense that you feel that everyone in America is ready to start shooting at the top of a hat. Also, I wouldn't be too worried about getting hit by someone shooting 9mm from a sailboat at 200 yards.

Interesting your relative sense of danger in comparing an unlit anchored boat at 200 yards versus some unknown, possibly dangerous, irate sailor you have just awoken. That aside, perhaps this unlit boat is in a designated anchorage unknown to you. Perhaps they are unloading a type of cargo that is best unloaded in poor visibility conditions. But that aside too, I would be glad I spotted her at 200 yards, or whatever, and go on my merry way without saying or doing anything. No good ever comes from such things, in my opinion. Call the responsible authority, yes, but get involved these days, no. Perhaps in the morning, if you are nearby, you can pay a friendly visit, possibly make a friend, and mention politely your problem seeing her at night. Just a tip.

I agree that yelling expletives in the night may not make you a friend. That being said, I would also think that the chances they're up to nefarious things that they'd shoot at you over would be near nil.

Even if it was a drug boat, would it not be more prudent for them to not murder every passer by? That kind of thing arouses more suspicion than not having anchor lights...

I'd probably not have said anything, personally, and as a Canadian, would have apologised had I run into their boat (it's what we do... Sorry...). That being said, it would piss me off, and I'd consider coming on here and starting a thread about it!

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I sail on a relatively small municipal lake. It's only about a 10 mile walk around the entire lake. So there are no anchoring areas and a sailboat is probably the least efficient way to get drugs from one side of the lake to the other lol.

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